The ODA loan agreement was signed between H.E. Mr. Sujan R. Chinoy, Ambassador of India to Japan and Junichi Yamada, Senior Vice President, JICA at the Iikura House of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo.
Takema Sakamoto, chief representative, JICA India office, said: "We are happy to announce that it would be the first case for JICA in India to support the construction of a seawater desalination plant to overcome the water scarcity issue in Chennai. The project aims to provide a safe and reliable water supply for residents in CMA so as to improve the living conditions of the people. The project will also enhance the economic growth and investment climate in the area.”
Sakamoto added that JICA has been collaborating with a Japanese company, Totetsu Manufacturing, on a trial basis to explore the possibility of rainwater storage system in Chennai.
There are currently two plants in operation in the area and another already in the planning stages.
A WABAG joint venture was awarded the contract to design, construct and operate the Nemmelli 100,000 m3/day reverse osmosis (RO) plant from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), which started up in 2013.
Meanwhile the 100,000 m3/day Minjur RO desalination plant has been carried out by Indian infrastructure firm IVRCL on a design, build, own, operate and transfer basis over a 25 year period.
A third project was announced in September last year after funding was announced from the German government funding agency, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) to the Tamil Nadu State government. The $208 million plant is expected to treat 150,000 m3/day to supply 900,000 people with drinking water in southern and central Chennai.
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Recharging India’s Aquifers
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